Electric coupling



Filed Feb. 24 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR JOSEPH 0. Me CUNE ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 1929. J. c. McCUNE 1,733,196

ELECTRIC COUPLING Filed Feb. 24. 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 2 iNVENTOR JOSEPH C. MCCUNE ATTORNEY J. c. McCUNE ELECTRIC COUPLING Oct. 29, 1929.

Filed Feb. 24, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JOSEPH C.McCUNE ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 29, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH C. MCCUNE, OF EDGEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, A SSIGNOR TO THE WESTING- HOUSE AILR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMERDIN G, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION F PENN SYLVANIA ELECTRIC COUPLING Application filed February 24, 1927. Serial No. 170,507.

This invention relates to electric couplers for connecting electric circuits between the cars of a train and particularly to that type of coupler shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,601,164 of C. C. Farmer, dated September 28, 1926, and has for an object the provision of means for preventing the electric contact carrier from being projected beyond its proper operative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric coupler having means whereby the coupler door and the coupler contact carrier are operated simultaneously.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts; Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electric coupler embodying the invention, a side elevation of the contact carrier being shown in this View; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing in detail the mechanism for operating the contact carrier and the coupler door; Fig. 3 is a portion of a like sectlonal view illustrating further details of the mechanism for operating the coupler door; Fig. 4 a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the coupler door open, the contact carrier in 1ts forward operative position, and the operating mechanism in its locking position; and Fig. 6 is a detail view of a portion of the contact carrier operating mechanism in its carrier locking position.

Referring now in detail to the drawings the reference character 1 indicates the coupler casing which may be of any suitable construction. Within this casing there is an electric contact carrier 2 which is pivotally supported by links 3, which links at their upper ends are pivotally mounted on pins 4 mounted in the casing 1. This link supporting construction permitsthe contact carrier to be projected or retracted.

The force for projecting the contact carrier 2 is obtained by the movement of a push rod 5 through its impact with the meetlng face of a counterpart coupler head in the act of coupling. The push rod 5 is mounted in bearings 6 provided in the casing 1 and lsoperatively connected at its rear ends by links 7 to rocker arms 8. Intermediate the rocker arms 8 there is a notched disk 9 having hub extensions forming bearings for the rocker arms. Pivotally mounted on and between the rocker arms 8 is a pawl 10 adapted to engage in the notch of the disk 9.

The disk 9 is mounted on a squared shaft 11, which shaft adjacent its ends is suitably journalled in the sides of the casing 1. Within the casing and at each side of the contact carrier there is secured to the shaft 11, a rocker arm 12 and between the arms 12 there is secured to the shaft 11 a rocker arm 13.

Extending transversely through the contact carrier there is a member or bolt 14 which is mounted in eyebolts 15 adjustably mounted in the contact carrier, and to this member 14, the ends of the arms 12 are operatively connected by links 16. The rocker arm 13 is of greater length than the arms 12 and intermediate the shaft 11 and the end of the arm 13 there is a link 17 which connects the arm and the member 14. Through the medium of the shaft 11, arms 12 and 13 and links 16 and 17 the contact carrier is projected or retracted.

The casing 1 at the forward end of the coupler is provided with an opening through which the end portion of the contact carrier 2 is adapted to be projected, which opening Y is controlled by a door 18. The upper corner portions of this door are slidably mounted in ways formed in the outer end portion of'the casing 1, while the lower corner portions of the door are pivotally attached to levers '19 secured to a shaft 20 which extends across and is suitably journalled in the sides of the casing 1. Secured to this shaft, intermediate its ends, there is a lever 21 having mounted thereon a roller 22, with which roller one end of a link 23 is adapted to engage, the other end of the link being op'eratively connected with the end portion of the rocker arm 18.

The free or outer end portion of this link passes between and is supported and guided by rollers 24 which are rotatably mounted on the contact carrier.

When the push rod 5 is being moved inwardly, the shaft 11, and rocker arms 12 and 13 will be caused to rotate, thus forcing the contact carrier outwardly, this being due, of course, to the link 17 connected with the carrier and with the arm 13. At the same time the link 23 is moved outwardly by the arm 18, which movement, due to the cooperation of the free end of the link with the lever 21, causes the shaft 20 and levers 19 and 21 to rotate thus moving the door downwardly. It will here be noted that the contact carrier and the door begin to move simultaneously, but due to the differences in the lengths of the several operating levers and the connections therefrom to the carrier and the door, the door will move with greater speed than the contact carrier, thus the door will be free of the door opening before the carrier is projected therethrough. When the carrier has reached its extreme projected position the centers of the shaft 11, member 14 and the pivotal connection between the link 17 and arm 13 are substantially in alignment and the centers of the shaft 11, member 14; and pivotal connections between the arms 12 and links 16 are also in alignment and thus prevent any outward over travel of the contact carrier.

As this invention is merely an improvement on the device disclosed and claimed in the aforementioned Farmer patent, it will be understood that the details of the coupler and the operations thereof which have not been described in detail in this application are substantially the same as set forth in the Farmer patent.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a coupler casing, of an electric contact carrier mounted in said casing and being adapted to be projected longitudinally thereof, and means for positively moving said carrier to its extreme projected position, said means being operative to prevent the projection of said' carrier beyond said position.

2. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a coupler casing, of an electric contact carrier movable longitudinally of said casing and means for moving said carrier, said means being adapted to prevent over travel of said carrier. v

3. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a casing, of an electric contact carrier mounted in said casing, and means for moving said carrier longitudinally of said casing and for stopping the travel thereof at its extreme projected position, said means comprising an operating shaft, a.

rocker arm thereon, and a positive connection from said rocker arm to sa1d carrier.

4. In an electric train line coupler, the

combination with a coupler casing, of an electric contact carrler movable longltudinally of said casing, an operating shaft for said carrier, an arm on said shaft, and a connection from said shaft to said carrier adapted to prevent lost motion between said arm and carrier as said carrier is operated and adapted to prevent overtravel of said carrier.

5. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a coupler casing, of an electric contact carrier movable longitudinally of said casing, an operating shaft for said carrier, an arm on said shaft, and a link operatively connecting said arm and carrier, the connection between the link and arm being adapted to prevent lost motion between said arm and carrier, when said carrier is operated and being adapted to prevent overtravel of said carrier. 1

6. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a coupler casing, of an electric contact carrier movable longitudinally of said casing, an operating shaft for said carrier, and connections therefrom to said carrier adapted to prevent lost motion between said carrier' and shaft when said carrier is operated and adapted to prevent over: travel of said carrier. 7

7. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a coupler casing, of an electric contact carrier mounted in said casing and being adapted to be projected longitudinally thereof, of means for positively moving said carrier to its extreme projected position and for preventing overtravel of said carrier, said means comprising a shaft, a rocker arm on said shaft, and a link positively connected with said arm and with said carrier. V

'8. In an electric train line coupler, the

combination with a coupler caslng, of an carrier, said means comprising an operating shaft, an arm on said shaft and a' link positively connecting said arm and carrier, the center of the connection between said arm and link beingin line with the centers of said shaft and the connection between said link and carrier as said carrier reaches its extreme projected position. l V

10. In an electric train line coupler, the combination with a coupler casing of an electric contact carrier movable longitudinally of said casing, and means for positively moving and limiting thetravel of said carrier, said means comprising an operating shaft,

my hand.

JOSEPH C. MCCUNE. 

